Development of an Integrated Predictive Framework for Monitoring Paediatric HIV Disease Severity Using Inflammatory Biomarkers and Clinico-demographic Determinants in Anambra, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65336/WJMS.2026.3902Keywords:
Paediatric HIV, Disease Severity, Inflammatory Biomarkers, Clinico-demographic Determinants, CD4+Abstract
HIV infection is associated with chronic inflammation, which can be monitored through biomarkers like erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP). This study aimed to evaluate these markers in children living with HIV on and off antiretroviral therapy (ART) compared to a control group-both groups have an equal gender distribution, with 47.6% female and 52.4% male participants in each group. A cross-sectional study was conducted among children living with HIV and a control group with ESR, CRP, and clinico-demographic factors were assessed. HIV-positive children had higher mean CRP levels and lower mean ESR levels compared to the control group, ESR level was lower in HIV seropositive individuals (43.24 ± 20.26) compared to the HIV seronegative controls (54.86 ± 19.58), while the mean CRP level was higher in HIV seropositive individuals (7.55 ± 7.38) compared to HIV seronegative controls (4.27 ± 7.02). ESR showed a weak negative correlation with age in the HIV-positive group, while CRP showed a weak positive correlation with age in the control group. The study also revealed associations between CD4+ cell count and maternal education, mode of delivery, and WHO clinical stage in the HIV-positive group. In the medium socio-economic class, a higher proportion of individuals (64.29%) had CD4+ counts greater than 200 cells/mm³ compared to the low socio-economic class (21.43%). Similarly, individuals with CD4+ counts below 200 cells/mm³ were slightly more prevalent in the low socio-economic class (4.76%) than in the medium socio-economic class (9.52%) and Vaginal delivery was associated with a markedly higher proportion of individuals with CD4+ counts >200 cells/mm³ (76.19%) compared to cesarean section (9.52%) deliveries among the HIV-seropositive group (p > 0.05).This research suggests that while ART may influence ESR levels in HIV-positive children, CRP remains a valuable marker of inflammation.
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